Powering ProjeX: From Vision to Victory

Episode 16: Regulating the Game: Is Project Management Ready to Be a Profession?

DK Season 1 Episode 16

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In this episode of the Powering ProjeX podcast, host DK, Dr Chivonne Algeo and Campbell Johnston explore if the project management industry is ready to become a profession.

Project management, despite its critical role in delivering complex, costly, high-value projects across industries and the globe, is not a registered profession globally or in Australia. The industry fundamentally lacks compulsory and mandatory licensing, standardized qualifications for entry to practice, and a centralized regulator, which may stem from project management’s interdisciplinary nature.

The episode explores the:
• Absence of mandatory licensing and regulation in the project management industry despite its significant role in overseeing complex and high-value projects.
• Definition of a profession, and compares project management to regulated fields like law, medicine, and accounting, and questions why project management remains unlicensed.
• Barriers to professionalizing project management, including the lack of a unified body of knowledge, diverse methodologies, and varied roles and responsibilities and examine the potential benefits and challenges of regulation
• The role of professional associations, and whether Australia could lead global efforts towards standardization in project management.

The conversation delves into examples from various regions, the impact of increased regulation on costs, and the necessity of balancing technical and interpersonal skills in the field. It concludes with reflections on continuous learning and the future of project management as a recognized profession.

So, is there a need or an appetite to professionalize project management in Australia and beyond? Is regulation a worthwhile pursuit for the industry, investors, constituents, and society more broadly? And if so, why has progress stalled?

Listen in to understand the arguments for and against professionalisation.

Until next time, keep powering your projects from vision to victory, and let’s shape a future where project management stands tall as a profession, delivering impact with accountability and pride!

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Vision: A world where project people are celebrated as the quiet architects of progress: turning the boldest visions into victories through wisdom, courage, and relentless learning.

Mission: To equip project professionals to master their craft through raw, authentic conversations with the respected CEOs, experts, and practitioners.

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